at the center of the controversy is maryland delegate emmit burns, a democrat from baltimore county. he asked the owner of the baltimore ravens to silence linebacker brendan iandanagio for supporting gay marriage rights in maryland and he support delegate burns an outspoken and we should say a profanity-laced letter saying in part as i suspect you have not read the constitution, i would like to remind you that the very first, the very first amendment in this founding document deals with the freedom of speech. he also said i can assure you that gay people getting married will have zero affect on your life. they won't come into your house and steal your children. you know what having these rights will make gays do? full-fledged american citizens just like everyone else with the freedom to per sue happiness and all that entails. we reached out to delegate burns and he would not give us a comment. let's expand with the story now. the discussion about the controversy. noah brand is the editor-in- chief of the good men project, an online magazine fostering a discussion around manhood and t